Two techniques for measuring size of ingested blood meal and 5 methods of measuring proteinase activity in the midgut of Aedes aegypti are compared. Protein, measured after trichloroacetic acid precipitation, was found to be most suitable for determining blood meal size and loss of protein from the gut. Of 5 proteinase substrates tested (BAPNA (benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide), hemoglobin, casein, azocasein, and hide powder azure), BAPNA was considered most suitable for trypsin measurements. These techniques were used to show that virgin females, 6 and 10 days after eclosion, consumed smaller meals than mated females. Virgin females also showed delays in both onset of protein loss from the gut and the increase in proteinase activity after blood feeding.

(1) Asthichus arizonensis n. sp.

♂. Length .04 inch. Steel blue, finely scaly, with a slight metallic tinge on thorax; the knees and tarsi white. Antennæ dark blue, the funicle joints excised, pedunculated, with whorls of very long hairs. Wings hyaline; veins pale, the marginal vein very long.

Hab.—Arizona.

Yellow water pan traps and yellow sticky traps were used to collect Delia spp. flies in plots of canola, var. Tobin, for an entire growing season in the Peace River region of Alberta. At one or more times during the growing season, pan traps and sticky traps captured Delia radicum (L.), Delia floralis (Fallen), Delia planipalpis (Stein), or Delia platura (Meigen). Numbers of males and females caught varied dramatically between the two trap styles, both within and between the various species. Prior to the onset of flowering, cumulative captures of each of the four Delia spp. in pan traps were all significantly lower than on sticky traps for females and males. From the onset of flowering until trapping ended on 17 August, cumulative captures of D. radicum, D. floralis, and D. planipalpis females were similar in pan traps and sticky traps. Sticky traps, however, remained significantly better than pan traps for trapping all Delia spp. males, as well as D. platura females. Pan traps were more suitable than sticky traps for collecting intact specimens for positive identifications. Results indicate that a combination of sticky traps and pan traps should be used over an entire growing season when conducting initial surveys for Delia species in crops such as canola. In routine monitoring programs for Delia spp., sticky traps would be more efficacious early in the growing season and more practical than pan traps. The level of expertise required to accurately identify the Delia spp. complex in canola would be higher for sticky traps than for pan traps.

Field testing of a large number of synthetic compounds and many combinations of them revealed that male moths of the pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morrison, were attracted to combinations of Z-5-dodecen-1-yl acetate and Z-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate. The most satisfactory attractants were combinations of these two compounds in ratios of 1:2 to 1:5 at 10 to 25 μg/septum dispenser. The effect of the attractant was strongly inhibited by the addition of 21% Z-7-dodecen-1-ol.

Previous work by Kinghorn and Chapman (1959) has shown that in coastal British Columbia, the ambrosia beetle Trypodendron lineatum hibernates in the forest litter or duff at various distances within forest edges in the vicinity of brood logs. It was pointed out that further study was required to determine the characteristics of the optimum hibernation sites. It was mentioned that stand density, shade, aspect, slope, and the nature of the duff might be factors controlling the selection of the place of hibernation. The base of trees and the relatively deeper duff, characteristic of this situation, was reported to be the location of the larger populations of hibernating beetles although the level of population was found to vary greatly both from tree to tree and in depth within different forest edges.

Early in the present century the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.), was introduced accidentally into North America. The history of its development and spread in the United States and Canada has been described by Balch (1952). At the present time, the adelgid occurs in eastern Canada over approximately the southern half of New Brunswick with an extension of the range in the extreme northeastern part of the Province, throughout Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and in some areas of the southwestern and southeastern parts of Newfoundland.

Baited tree experiments confirmed the hypothesis that frontalin is a multifunctional pheromone that can induce the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, to aggregate on and mass-attack lodgepole pine, Pinus conforta var. latifolia Engelmann. A re-examination was undertaken of the role of four known semiochemicals, myrcene, trans-verbenol, exo-brevicomin, and frontalin, tested as tree baits alone (with the exception of myrcene) and in all possible combinations. There was considerable redundancy evident in the semiochemical signal. For example, myrcene + frontalin and trans-verbenol + exo-brevicomin induced attack on baited trees at similar levels of intensity. The results suggest that beetles of either sex could initiate a mass attack. During the most attractive phase of host colonization, redundancy in the semiochemical signal could act as a fail-safe mechanism to ensure perception of and response to odors from an attacked tree. In addition the standard, commercial, tree bait containing myrcene, trans-verbenol, and exo-brevicomin might be modified by deleting myrcene, making a more acceptable and cost-effective operational bait.

Wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), indigenous to North America, quickly adapted from host native grasses to wheat crops (Triticum Linnaeus (Poaceae)) with expansion of agriculture on the Great Plains of North America. Bioclimatic simulation tools, such as Climex, predict the potential geographic distribution and establishment of insects in ecosystems, based on climate. The ecoclimatic index, a measure of ecological suitability, integrates potential population growth with stresses to produce estimates of relative abundance. This simulation software was used to develop a bioclimate model for C. cinctus in western Canada. Results fostered a better understanding of how C. cinctus responded to selected climate variables. Two general circulation models were then applied to assess the response of C. cinctus populations to future climate. Relative to current climate, predicted changes in C. cinctus distribution and relative abundance were greatest for 2030, with a small further increase for 2070. Across the Prairies and Boreal Plains Ecozones, changes in ecoclimatic index were greater than in geographic distribution. Both general circulation models indicated most of this area would be categorised as very favourable. This suggests that the potential for pest populations could expand into areas that do not currently experience economic losses associated with C. cinctus.

Although the use of nonhost plants intercropped among host crops has been a standard agricultural practice for reducing insect herbivory for millennia, the use of nonhost signals to deter forest pests is much more recent, having been developed over the past several decades. Early exploratory studies with synthetic nonhost volatile semiochemicals led to targeted electrophysiological and trapping experiments on a variety of bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) across three continents. This work disclosed a suite of antennally and behaviourally active nonhost volatiles, which are detected in common across a range of coniferophagous bark beetles. It also established the fact that dispersing bark and ambrosia beetles detect nonhost signals while in flight and avoid nonhost trees without necessarily landing on them. Later work showed that groups of synthetic nonhost volatiles, sometimes combined with insect-derived antiaggregants, are effective in protecting individual trees and forest stands. Further work in this system may lead to the development of a variety of new and useful tactics for use in various integrated pest management strategies.

Three new species of oribatid mites in two genera of Mycobatidae are recorded from canopy habitats of coniferous temperate rainforest and montane forest in the Pacific Northwest of North America. These species, Mycobates acuspidatussp.nov., M. corticeussp.nov., and Zachvatkinibates epiphytossp.nov., are described on the basis of adults and immatures. The previous key for adult Mycobates species of America north of Mexico is modified to include these new species, and a key for adults is given for the three species of Zachvatkinibates now known from North America.

Hopping’s P. terminalis, which attacks the elongating terminal shoots of lodgepole pine in California, similarly attacks lodgepole pine in the Yukon and northern British Columbia. Cytologically it is unique, and on this basis, although phenotypically variable, it is demonstrated to occur on jack pine in Saskatchewan. Cytogenetic analysis proves it to be a hybrid species, thus accounting for both its internal cytological and external morphological polymorphism. Its fundamental taxonomic characteristics, determinable only in living specimens, comprise an unparalleled sexual dimorphism of chromosome complements and a restriction in breeding to current growth of lodgepole and jack pines.

After this article had been sent to press, we learned that G. R. Hopping (in "Lodgepole Pine in Alberta", Department of Forestry Bulletin 127, p. 84, 1962) had already discovered P. terminalis infesting lodgepole pine near Mercoal, Alta., in 1949.

Representatives of the families Braconidae and Pteromalidae were present in association with broods of Ips pini Say and Ips perroti Sw. The identifications and information on distribution and hosts were kindly supplied by O. Peck and W. R. M. Mason of the Systematic Entomology Unit in Ottawa. Additional information on hosts and distribution were obtained from Hymenoptera of America by Muesebeck, Krombein, Towns, et al. (1951).

Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Wyeomyia Theobald are presented, based on a cladistic analysis of 88 morphological characters (from adults, larvae, and pupae) of 38 named species and 1 unnamed species and 46 allozyme markers from a subset of 19 of these species. Two taxa are used as outgroup (Sabethes aurescens Lutz and Limatus durhami Theobald). The analysis indicates that, as currently defined, the genus Wyeomyia is not a monophyletic lineage: firstly, the genus Onirion Peyton and Harbach is nested within the genus Wyeomyia, and secondly, the subgenus Phoniomyia Theobald is a monophyletic lineage outside the genus Wyeomyia. Our results also demonstrate that the subgenera Cruzmyia Lane and Cerqueira, Decamyia Dyar, Dendromyia Theobald, Spilonympha Motta and Lourenço-de-Oliveira, and Prosopolepis Lutz are monophyletic lineages nested within the genus Wyeomyia. Triamyia Dyar is resurrected as a subgenus of Wyeomyia to include W. aporonoma Dyar and Knab and W. staminifera Lourenço-de-Oliveira, Motta, and Castro. The subgenus Miamyia Dyar is resurrected to include seven species: W. codiocampa Dyar and Knab, W. lutzi (Costa Lima), W. limai Lane and Cerqueira, W. serrata (Lutz), W. hosautos Dyar and Knab, W. oblita (Lutz), and W. sabethea Lane and Cerqueira.

The life history and behaviour of Scelio calopteni Riley, an internal parasite of grasshopper eggs, is described. This insect was reared for the first time in the laboratory through one complete cycle. Newly emerged adults readily oviposited in eggs of Melanoplus sanguinipes F. By dechorionating the grasshopper eggs the developing stages of the parasite could be clearly observed.

Although three larval stages have been reported by other authors for different species of Scelio, careful observations suggested only two in S. calopteni.

A Berlese–Tullgren funnel is described which features a 600-w heating element, a tray having a single bottom of new design, and ventilating screens below the tray to prevent condensation of moisture on the inner wall of the funnel. The funnel efficiently extracts grassland arthropods from coarse plant matter. Also described is a salt-water flotation separator, which extracts any arthropods from the fine litter and soil that may pass through the funnel screens.

The European, or Essex skipper, Thymelicus (= Adopaea) lineola (Ochs.), was accidentally introduced into North America at London, Ontario, sometime before 1910 (Saunders, 1916). The history of its subsequent spread through southern Ontario and adjoining parts of Michigan and Ohio was reviewed by Pengelly (1961), who received the first report of extensive damage to hay and pasture crops by this insect in Ontario from the Markdale area of Grey County in 1956. A survey in 1958 (Pengelly, 1961) showed that the skipper “appeared to be present throughout the southern part of the province except for the Bruce peninsula and possibly the Windsor area. The northeasterly boundary appeared to he along a line from Midland, south around the west side of Lake Simcoe, east to Lindsay and south to Whitby.” The present author collected T. lineola larvae from the Belleville area for the first time in 1959.

An illustrated key to the genera of Braconinae from America north of Mexico is provided. Lapicida aquatica Quicke gen.nov. and sp.nov. from Ontario and Iowa, and Compsobraconoides robustus Quicke gen.nov. and sp.nov. from Texas, Florida, and Mexico are described and illustrated. Bracon albispina Cameron is transferred to Compsobraconoides and a key is provided to enable its separation from Compsobraconoides rufus Quicke sp.nov. Chartobracon van Achterberg is recorded from the New World for the first time and a new species, C. canadensis Quicke sp.nov. from Canada, is described, illustrated, and distinguished from C. huggerti van Achterberg from Europe. Seliodus Brèthes is synonymized with Bracon Fabricius on the authority of C. van Achterberg. Relationships of the new genera are briefly discussed and notes are provided on all of the Nearctic genera.

Plant growth and insect resistance characteristics were determined for two Brassica napus Linnaeus (Brassicaceae) lines, AtGL3+ and K-5-8, developed for enhanced trichome densities relative to their parental cultivar Westar. In the field, both transgenic lines had glabrous cotyledons that curled upwards at emergence but flattened with time, and young leaves with elevated trichome density. Flea beetle (Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius); Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) feeding was reduced on true leaves of both lines by 30–50% compared with insecticide-free Westar. Flea beetle feeding levels on cotyledons of the two hairy-leaved lines were lower than on unprotected Westar and similar to those seen on insecticide-treated Westar. Antixenosis and antibiosis resistance was observed when diamondback moths (Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus); Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) interacted with the hairy AtGL3+ and K-5-8 lines in the laboratory. Although the numbers of eggs laid by female diamondback moths on the transformed lines were similar to or higher than on Westar, in feeding bioassays larvae moved off AtGL3+ plants and larval feeding injury decreased on the transformed lines compared with Westar leaves. No agronomic or seed yield penalties were found for plants of K-5-8. These data highlight the utility of manipulating trichome regulatory genes to increase plant resistance against brassicaceous insect pests.

In the study of insect parasites of the darksided cutworm, Euxoa messoria (Harris), fourth- to seventh-instar larvae were collected from a field at Delhi, Ont., and reared in the laboratory. A total of 701 insect parasites including six species of Hymenoptera and four of Diptera, were reared from the 3970 darksided cutworm larvae collected in 1973 and 1974.

Thirteen species of insect parasites of E. messoria are listed. Ten of these species were reared in the present study from E. messoria in Ontario and all of them are primary and internal parasites. Of the 10, only two have previously been reported as parasites of E. messoria. Host–parasite relationship and the degree of parasitism are given for the 10 species reared in Ontario.

The effects of trap design, lure concentration, lure age, and trap maintenance on the catch of western spruce budworm moths, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, in pheromone traps were tested in light to moderate infestations near Ashcroft, B.C. High cumulative moth catches reduced the trapping efficiency of both the sticky traps and the non-sticky Uni-traps relative to traps from which the moths were removed every 2 days. Correlations between the total season’s catch and larval density per plot in the same and following generations were not significant (P>0.05) for any of the eight combinations of trap design, lure concentration, and maintenance regimen tested. However, by dividing the mean moth catch in Uni-traps by either the basal area or foliage biomass per hectare in each plot, correlations with the following year’s larval density were significant (r 2 = 0.77–0.98; P<0.05; n=5).